Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-08-01

what TO say first; suddenly she re
membered that perhaps | could hear
sll that was going on, and, II 50,
maybe | would at least appreciate
Theresa as she deserved, - she
would not, Just now, undeceiye her.
Then again. il she told Theresa that
il was not a cadaver, To whom she
was telling her love, the poor girl
would be too much mortified 10 ever
look US in the face; by and by, if
Otto WAS correct in his opinion about
my condition, it would be easy TO tell
her l had been restored, but not 10
let her know that l had never been
given up by my own family.
ThorSs@ o-anfirraa5 Kitty in this in
tention by rising and pressing long,
warm kiss on my stone lips, and has
tening from the room.
In the intervals of consciousness
which came 10 me | had leisure to
mediate upon the two girls. | blam
ed myself for being hard-hearted be-
cause l could not feel sorrow at Llna's
loss which it seemed 10 me | ought
10 experience; and Theresa's bright
ewes and sweet mouth would rise be-
fore my mental vision in most un-
accustomed wav. / really felt quite
grateful 10 Kitty for what | was sure
was little artifce on her part TO con-
vince me how little Lima had actually
cared for me. although her scheme
had succeeded beyond her widest
hopes.
A few hours convinced my physi-
clan that the Angel of Death had not
been sent for me, and though was
i'll for several weeks, was at last re-
stored TO my usual health. In the
DAYS of my convalescenee Theresa
frequently came TO read or sing To
me, and my eyes now being open TO
her virtues, l found myself getting
seriously in love with her.
One day surprised her by saying !:
.'By-the-way, Theresa, when is my
old sweetheart. Feroline Palmer, go
ing to be married =
.Why, hasn't Kitty told You: Her
engagement to Harold Carter was
broken off in less than a fortnight ;
1t turned out he was already married,
though separated from his wife, and
her father made such talk about il
that Harold disappeared"
And left Lima in the lurch, Ell:
Well, she got her pay for iilting me
much sooner than 1 fancied she
would. Why do you look so surpris-
ed : Did you believe the story she
told Kitty. There was not word Of
truth in it"
''But you had your own ring on,
and the box where you kept the let
tiers was unlocked and empty, Kitty
said She looked into the things to
see if she was misjudglng Feroline in
disbelieying what she had said
''Oh. Lima was cute she took her
letters and changed the rings when
she was left alone with her so-called
dead love-" replied incautiously.
.'Oh, Fred, you must be so unjust,
so bitter. Probably that blow on
your head made you forget what had
happened that morning she is free
now" and Theresa gave a faint sigh,
and / saw the corner Of her mouth
droOp.
''Yes, she's free, and likely to re-
main so; she can't play her game
forever. She Is a cold-hearted, mer-
cenary firt. -
Theresa thought my words were in
duced by wounded pride, 30 she tried
70 console me.
'.FeroIine had been to inquire for
you ever 50 many times, and / told
Kitty that / thought she ought 70
bring her up to see you"
mo, no - thought Kitty knows
better; she knows by my silence
about her that / have lost my inter-
est in her"
These were my thoughts, but as !
said not a word, Theresa continued
s'She sent you those lovely roses
which you have been admiring."
"Did sheE' exclaimed, eagerly.
s.Please hand them 70 me-"
Theresa did 20, fully expecting to
see me press them to my lips, and
not at all anticipating that / wouid
take and fling them into the bright
fire which gIOwed in the CRATE before
me.
"why, Fred !" she cried in amaze
nent.
.sThere goes her gift, and there
goes my fancy for her, II there was
any Of il left, that il. That blow on
nv thick skull, Tressie, convinced
nv dull intellect that bad been mis-
taking pinchbeek for gold. What .
fool / was 70 have looked Al Lima
when you were still unmarried, and
therefore free u - loved Z"
..Fred 2" gasped Theresa; bat ]
checked her flow ~ words by the
usual means that lovers employ.
When Kitty came into the room
little later 70 see about my luncheon,
the arch-hypOcrite pretended u ~
immensely surprised - see the close
embrace in which she found tie two
d u: bat a glance which Ne ex-
changed over Tressie's unconscious
head told me that she was satisfied